Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

The Caucasian Muslims Office held an event on April 13 to commemorate memory of Azerbaijani martyrs, who died heroically while repulsing the Armenian provocation on the line of contact of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.

CMO Chairman Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, addressing the event, stated that the events of past days have shown that Azerbaijan is ready to liberate its lands from the occupation.

“Azerbaijan is supported both inside and outside, which is a result of the government’s policy. We believe that our lands will be liberated from the Armenian occupation. The whole world knows that these lands belong to Azerbaijan,” Pashazade said.

He voiced his condolences to the families of martyrs, who gave their lives for the liberation of Azerbaijan.

The state adviser on international issues, multiculturalism and religion, Kamal Abdulla, for his part, said that the recent tension on the contact line once again showed that Azerbaijan is able to have its say.

The state advisor stressed that the recent events made Azerbaijan even closer to the victory.

Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan flared up again on April 2 when Yerevan, which has pursued an aggressive and occupation policy against Baku, tried to tarnish Azerbaijan’s image by provoking war and repeatedly violating the ceasefire and firing on civilians.

Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on April 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) with the consent of the sides.

Later, the heads of religious confessions of Azerbaijan, including Sheikh-ul Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Orthodox Community's Head Archbishop Alexander Ischein, Head of Mountain Jews Religious Community MilikhYevdayev and Chairman of the Community of European Jews in Baku Gennady Zelmanovich appealed to the international community.

“We turn to you with a view to share the concern caused by the Armenian provocation on the contact line. It is our duty to God and the homeland as religious leaders. We are always in favor of peace and understanding in all over the world,” the statement reads. “Armenian provocations observed over the past days on the frontline once again proved occupying intentions of Armenia. Azerbaijan has always stood for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The country does not want to increase the number of innocent victims of the conflict and first announced a ceasefire unilaterally. Although it was agreed on the general cease-fire, the Armenian side periodically violates it.”

The whole world, including Armenians, knows that Karabakh is an Azerbaijani territory. Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is recognized by all international documents, the heads of religious confessions emphasized.

“We bow our heads in front of the memory of the martyrs who gave their lives for the territorial integrity of the motherland, we express deep condolences to their families, friends and all the people of Azerbaijan and wish speedy recovery to the wounded,” the statement reads.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. The two countries fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions despite the four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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